Bertelsmann Investments

Empowering Entrepreneurs

Bertelsmann Investments is a global investment platform dedicated to driving best-in-class returns and encouraging entrepreneurship worldwide. With decades committed to venture and several billion in assets under management, we partner with leading entrepreneurs and venture funds across stages and sectors, operating dedicated funds in India, China, Europe, the US, and other growth regions. Our commitment to building leading businesses is further realized through the growth program Bertelsmann Next, which is home to our own incubation efforts and buy-and-build strategies.

Building on 190 Years of Entrepreneurship

Founded in 1835, our parent organisation Bertelsmann has constantly reinvented itself. From a small local publishing house to a global media company to a diversified media, services, and education business, Bertelsmann has manifested creativity and entrepreneurship as its core values. As part of the Bertelsmann family, we hold those same values – we take the long-term view and embrace constant change.

Reinhard Mohn in New York, 1954

Selected Breakouts

We’ve had the privilege of investing in over 400 groundbreaking companies and funds, including numerous investments that have achieved unicorn status and gone public. Highlighted here are select platform businesses that we have either partnered with as investors or incubated within Bertelsmann Next.

Applike

Applike is one of the leading mobile advertising platforms globally, on track to reach $1bn in revenues. Based in Hamburg and founder-led, it is one of the most successful company incubations in Europe. Applike offers services in mobile user acquisition, gaming, and ad monetization.

Founders

Jonas Thiemann, Carlo Szelinsky

Partnership

Incubated within Next, Mobile Ad Tech

Rozana

Rozana is one of India’s fastest growing rural commerce platforms that leverages tech to meet the unique local demands of the rural Indian population, which amounts to nearly 1 billion people. This silent tech revolution is working towards incubating over 10 million tech micro-entrepreneurs all over the country. Founded by Ankur Dahiya, who hails from rural India herself, along with Adwait Vikram Singh, Mukesh Christopher, and Prithvi Pal Singh, Rozana raised $22.5m in a funding round led by BII in early 2024.

Founders

Ankur Dahiya, Adwait Vikram Singh, Mukesh Christopher, Prithvi Pal Singh

Partnership

Investment of BII, Venture

Stori

Stori, led by Asian American founder Bin Chen, is Mexico’s leading digital bank and one of the fastest growing neo banks globally. Stori is democratizing banking access and fostering financial inclusion for LatAm consumers. Founded in 2018, Stori achieved unicorn status with BAI as an early investor.

Founders

Bin Chen, Marlene Garayzar

Partnership

Investment of BAI, Venture

Studyflix

With more than 6 million active users a month, Studyflix is the largest e-learning and career platform for young students and graduates in German-speaking territories. Studyflix offers members of GenZ 5,000+ free learning- and career-related videos.

Founders

Benedik Bergner, Reinhard Blech

Partnership

Incubated within Next, HR Tech